StyleWatch Editors Want to Know: What's Your SPF?

As summer approaches, our thoughts turn to picnics, long days at the beach, road trips — and wearing the right SPF. From our tinted moisturizer to the heavy duty creams that come out for full days soaking up rays, we have a whole range of SPF products shoved into our bulging bathroom shelves. With sunny months ahead, we want to know what SPF you’re wearing (and hopefully reapplying like Penelope Cruz does!). Tell us: What SPF do you wear during the summer? Do you switch around depending on your activities and expected sun exposure?

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I’m obsessive about always wearing sunscreen. Daily I wear Clinique CityBlock SPF 40 on my face, under my makeup. When I’m going to be outside for extended periods of time, I wear SPF 45, usually from Neutrogena or Aveeno, in a sheer, waterproof variety. I plan to be wrinkle-free when I get old! (Sarah O., 22, Little Rock, Arkansas)

Melissa
on April 25th, 2007

Melissa, 28, Houston TX

I use SPF 15 moisturizer every day, but when I go out to the beach or pool in the summer, I switch to 30 on my face and 45 on my body. Hate burning!

Heather S.
on April 25th, 2007

I tan easily and have olive skin, but I still wear 25-30 on my face, even if I’m skipping the spf elsewhere (although I usually wear something all over as well). I’ve seen how years of tanning have aged my mom, and that’s a road I don’t want to go down!

Alex
on April 25th, 2007

I live year-round in the Hamptons, soo I spend a lot of my time in the summer sun. I use 30 on my face/chest, and 15 everywhere else, and I a few times a day when I’m at the beach. Then again, I’m German/Polish, so I’m on the paler side. I also go away every winter to somewhere tropical, usually Caribbean or Mexico, and then I put 30 everywhere and re-apply coonstaantly, and take intervals under an umbrella.

Super-dark tans are totally tacky, and skin cancer’s never in! I like to stick with my well-toned, not too dark not too light look, live some extra years and not have to worry about extensive wrinkling later in life. It’s all about balance!

Rachel
on April 25th, 2007

I wear an SPF 15 moisturizer everyday. If I’m going to be out in whe sun for a while at the beach or the pool, I go with SPF 45 – or higher, if I can find it. I’m really pale and start to burn after 15 minutes in strong sun, so I need the highest SPF I can find. (Rachel, 20, College Park, MD)

FH
on April 25th, 2007

Just an fyi…many companies boast products that claim to have an spf of ’45, 50 or more’ to encourage customers to purchase it, thinking they are receiving more protection. Any dermatologist will tell you though that 30 is really the highest level of effectiveness you can achieve. Anything after that is just advertising fluff.

Summy
on April 25th, 2007

I have always used Avon’s SSS spf 30 every time I know I’m going to be outside for any amount of time.
I went to a dermatologists for the first time and he couldn’t believe that I was 30 years old. I realized it really does pay to protect your skin from the sun!!

Colette
on April 25th, 2007

I use Nuetrogena helioplex SPF 45 for my face, neck, and chest. I have very acne-prone skin and it doesn’t make me break out. On my body I wear Banana Boat SPF 55. These products combined with staying in the shade keep my skin porcelian.

Katie
on April 25th, 2007

Daily I use and SPF 15 tinted moisterizer on my face and on moy body lotion with SPF 15 in it, but only if I’m not really going to be outside much. If I’m going outside I use SPF 45 and reapply every couple hours. I love my skin and I want it to look good when I look older. I see these girls that go to tanning salons and it disgusts me. They’re ruining their skin.

Crystal Beach girl
on April 25th, 2007

I just started using anti-aging vitamin complex cream w/ uva/uvb spf 15 protection. I love the way my skin feels. I’ve never used anything like this b4. It is great stuff. fyi: look at the lable of your face cream. If it just says mosturizer, it does not fight aging. I always thought all of the products out there did but I finally asked a cosmetician last week and she said otherwise. I’m so glad I asked. She suggested what I’m now using. She also said that a lot of the knock off brands are just as good as the exspensive brands. The only diff is the smell. Just thought I’d mention it.